ONT NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will become Premier of Ontario 2

With Hudak's swing to the extreme right and his direct attack on union rights, a victory for the NDP in Ontario becomes more important than ever. If Hudak wins the unions will be severely weakened under his right-to-work anti-union policies, which in turn will weaken the Ontario NDP's ability to fight future elections. A Hudak victory will also encourage other Con parties to mount similar attacks across the country. In response the Libs will shift further right while mouthing platitudes about correcting the worst problems created by the Cons (just like Chretien did with the Free Trade Agreement but instead doing nothing) since the Cons will have left them with plenty of room on the right of the spectrum.

I agree. As well, what you say about Chretien turning right in spite of what he campaigned on is also true of McGuinty, who initially campaigned on raising corporate taxes, but later cut them (recently he's held the line on further cuts to get support from the NDP for his recent budget, but this should not cloud people's memories of the contradiction between his past promises and subsequent actions). Hopefully people will reject both McGuinty and Hudak. I feel Horwath is great, and should be the next premier. She's truly been punching above her weight recently, and I'm sure will continue to do so until the next election.

I think Hudak is tacking further to starboard so as to appeal to his loyal crew members, as the nascent murmurs and grumbles of mutiny fester below deck. He'll need more than wait out the doldrums, if he hopes to put fresh wind in his sails.

I think it's important that the left-wing start now to attack Hudak as a right-wing fanatic whose anti-union policies are indicative of a extreme right-wing agenda that will hurt everyone except the 1%. Since his extemism helped defeat him in the last election despite an early lead, reenforcing this now, while its memory is still relatively fresh, could result in him being permanently damaged. if we wait until the next election, which could be a couple of years away, he may be able to generate enougn positive spin from a friendly media to burnish his image, because of most people's short-term political memory span.

the barbaric conditions of the poorest Ontarians, made even worse by this Liberal-NDP budget, render any claims by the NDP as 'progressive' completely unsustainable. Brutal and cruel bourgeois opportunists completely servile to big business interests

the barbaric conditions of the poorest Ontarians, made even worse by this Liberal-NDP budget, render any claims by the NDP as 'progressive' completely unsustainable. Brutal and cruel bourgeois opportunists completely servile to big business interests

I don't see the exposes on the TDSB as "union bashing". The unions in question are all rightwing "guilds" more than unions and a big part of the story is how they are funneling money and volunteers to rightwing city councillors and to the Ontario Liberals. I welcome exposes on the corrupt practices of these pro-Liberal Jimmy Hoffa types who are a cancer upon the labour movement. I think that people from REAL unions like CUPE and the CAW and OPSEU and USW etc... should dissociate themselves from being tarred with the same brush as the corporate stooges in the building trade guilds - they are about as representative of the labour movement as the Ontario Medical Association (aka "the doctors union")

Scott Stinson: Ontario NDP promotes more breaks for people who don’t need them

After telegraphing for weeks that the NDP would give Ontario’s new premier some conditions for support in the province’s minority legislature, leader Andrea Horwath gave a brief list of demands this week, with the top-line item, the one that garnered all the media attention, being a 15% cut in auto-insurance premiums.

Seriously, NDP: again with the populism?

Is anyone else annoyed with the ONDP's propensity to sprint towards populism that isn't necessarily progressive, whenever they are pressed to come up with a key demand? In particular, they seem to really enjoy advocating for making fuel and driving cheaper, which does not square well with the environmental crowd.

Why don't they just propose a 15% cut in new vehicle prices? If the Liberal government can regulate the price of teachers' labour, why not the price of new cars?

Anyone, let's give the ONDP credit for consistency. Weren't they the ones advocating no HST on home heating fuel? And now this? Someone could investigate Horwath's connections with the oil and gas industry.

Scott Stinson: Ontario NDP promotes more breaks for people who don’t need them

After telegraphing for weeks that the NDP would give Ontario’s new premier some conditions for support in the province’s minority legislature, leader Andrea Horwath gave a brief list of demands this week, with the top-line item, the one that garnered all the media attention, being a 15% cut in auto-insurance premiums.

Seriously, NDP: again with the populism?

Is anyone else annoyed with the ONDP's propensity to sprint towards populism that isn't necessarily progressive, whenever they are pressed to come up with a key demand? In particular, they seem to really enjoy advocating for making fuel and driving cheaper, which does not square well with the environmental crowd.

People still have to commute to work and deal with family obligatons regardless of whether Canada is a corrupt petro state as Monbiot refers to us. We aren't living in France or Germany with high speed rail service everywhere. It's a big country, and our former national airline is now the brunt of bad jokes since it was pawned off to the four winds.

Why don't they just propose a 15% cut in new vehicle prices? If the Liberal government can regulate the price of teachers' labour, why not the price of new cars?

Anyone, let's give the ONDP credit for consistency. Weren't they the ones advocating no HST on home heating fuel? And now this? Someone could investigate Horwath's connections with the oil and gas industry.

Yes I was alluding to the home heating fuel promise as well. And I think they suggested it for gasoline too.

Sadly I think the only thing that could possibly whack the populism out of the ONDP at this point is for their seat count to stagnate or drop in a new election. Or a leadership revolt.

AFAIK under current laws it is not automatically realigned with the federal boundaries without legislative intervention. Passing boundary legislation in a minority parliament could be a bit of a shitshow...

Anyone, let's give the ONDP credit for consistency. Weren't they the ones advocating no HST on home heating fuel? And now this? Someone could investigate Horwath's connections with the oil and gas industry.

As I understand it, the rationale for this is that the transfer of tax from the GST to the HST involved an increase in home heating fuel (so, it was not just a transfer, but an increase). This was done simultaneously with a proposal to lower corporate taxes. So, in effect, this served to transfer the tax burden from those with wealth to those who can least afford it. So the NDP opposed it. Also, the NDP generally is less in favour of consumption taxes, viewing them as flat taxes, and prefers more progressive taxes like the income tax.

Also, as I understand it, regarding the environment, the NDP prefer to target the polluter, rather than the consumer (IE, polluter pay). So, carbon taxes and other consumption taxes tend not to be the avenue with which the NDP approaches the environment. Regulation, retrofits, cap and trade (with hard caps) etc is the route the NDP generally prefers.

To digress slightly, it seems there are some interesting and unexpected consequences to heavily taxing home heating fuel. Apparently in Greece home heating fuel has been heavily taxed, and so people are burning stuff (doors, chopped down trees, tires, etc.) in their fireplaces, causing a huge toxic smog problem.

Interesting is that they use only the name of the candidate from last election who may not be the candidate in the upcoming election. And it appears to try to encourage Sandra P. to run no matter that she said she would not be seeking a seat. Toronto Star Liberal pressure is on, but I am thinking that she will not bite. There appeared to be betrayals at the Lib convention and that creates wounds.

Will the fact that the new riding boundaries are scheduled to come into effect in late 2014 (if my information is correct) have an effect on the timing of the next election?

If Liberals believe they would benefit from waiting untill the new boundaries come into effect, would this be enough incentive to make a deal with the NDP untill that happens?

The Liberals know they are a tired third term government with virtually no new ideas and therefore will call an election (if not defeated by the opposition) as soon as they think they have a decent chance of winning and not worry about whether new riding boundaries give them an advantage since any popularity they might momentarily capture is just as likely to vanish as the electorate is restless and Ontario is in dire economic straits. If they do wait for boundary readjustments, that is a sign they see virtually no chance of winning before that time. Whether the NDP or Cons win depends on which party can appear to address the electorate's concerns before and during the election. Andrea has shown herself to be a strong leader and has the potential to pull it off.

Andrea continues to provide strong leadership for the Ontario NDP as reflected in the rise in party popularity since the 2011 election. The NDP has risen to 31% from 23% during the election while the Liberals have fallen from 37% to 30% and the Cons from 35% to 33%.

On the other hand, “If Kathleen Wynne is to get a honeymoon coming out of the Liberal Leadership Convention, it has not started yet,” said Abacus Data CEO, David Coletto. “Liberal support is only marginally up since December. Most troubling for the Ontario Liberals remains their weakness outside of the Toronto area,” said Coletto. “While the Liberal vote may be more efficient, it will be difficult for them to retain even a minority government without improving in the 905 region around Toronto.”

“But this poll is not great news for Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives either,” said Coletto. “Despite what has been a very bruising year for the McGuinty government, the PCs have not managed to increase their support beyond their 2011 election showing.”

The proof that it is Horvath's leadership that has a played a large role in the NDP rise in popularity comes in a separate poll of Ontario party leaders by Abacus.

"Overall, 34% of Ontarians have a positive impression of NDP leader Andrea Horwath compared with 30% for Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne, and 23% for PC leader Tim Hudak. Tim Hudak has the highest negative rating of the leaders tested with 44% saying they have a negative impression. When asked which party leader would make the best Premier of Ontario, Wynne and Horwath were tied at 23% each with Tim Huadak at 20%."

On the other hand, "Tim Hudak has the highest negative rating of the leaders tested with 44% (Horvath and Wynne only had a 21% negative rating) saying they have a negative impression. Perceptions about Hudak are probably holding the PCs back at this point,” said Abacus Data CEO, David Coletto. “He is less popular than his party and few respondents who voted for another party in 2011 think he would make the best premier. That’s a tough position to be in when you are looking to grow support.” ...

"A concern for Kathleen Wynne is that one in three 2011 Liberal voters (31%) think that the province is off on the wrong track while another 28% are unsure."

If Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne does not call a public inquiry into the costly cancellation of two gas-fired electricity plants, the legislature will “become seized” with the scandal, New Democrat leader Andrea Horwath said.

The provincial NDP wants to see a vast mineral deposit in northern Ontario used to benefit the province's steel industry rather than offshore interests.

What is chromite?

Chromite is an iron chromium oxide mineral that is typically black or brownish-black, and has a high melting point. It is the only ore of chromium metal, which is used to make steel harder, tougher and resistant to chemicals — an alloy known as stainless steel.

When alloyed with iron and nickel, chromite produces "nichrome," which is resistant to high temperatures and used to make heating units, ovens and other appliances.

Thin coatings of chromium alloys, called chrome plating, are used on auto parts, appliances and other products.

The so-called Ring of Fire mining area in the James Bay Lowlands is believed to contain about a quarter of the world's chromite, the main ingredient in stainless steel.

American company Cliffs Natural Resources is the biggest player in the Ring of Fire. Its most recent investor update shows nearly half of the raw ore mined in northern Ontario is destined for China, while the rest will be shipped to a proposed smelter in Sudbury.

NDP MPP Gilles Bisson said Ontario should develop its own stainess steel industry, instead of sending the raw ingredients overseas.

"Rather than having jobs at the mine and maybe 300 jobs at a ferrochrome facility [in Sudbury], we could end up having tens of thousands of jobs in the stainless steel industry," Bisson said.

Hey, if it means that steel is many times more expensive than it needs to be and we cannot afford the same number of schools, hospitals, affordable housing, green street cars, and first family homes as before- I'm all for economic protectionism!

Exactly. There's such a thing as public auto insurance. Take a look at this province just west of Kenora called "Manitoba." You might want to give that a serious look.

I know, and I am under ICBC myself. Horwath is not talking about public auto insurance. She is talking about cutting private rates.

I just think that when you're in a situation of this kind of political brinksmanship, when it's a defining moment that lets you show where you have common ground with the governing party and what distinguishing political demands you have that really prove you were able to push the province in the right direction thanks to your co-operation... you need to make it cheaper to own a car?

If the ONDP hits a ceiling I think it'lll be because they're not doing enough to engage people's core progressive values. Progressives are just going to stay home from the polls if nobody looks appealing. Or vote for a smaller party.

Exactly. There's such a thing as public auto insurance. Take a look at this province just west of Kenora called "Manitoba." You might want to give that a serious look.

I know, and I am under ICBC myself. Horwath is not talking about public auto insurance. She is talking about cutting private rates.

I just think that when you're in a situation of this kind of political brinksmanship, when it's a defining moment that lets you show where you have common ground with the governing party and what distinguishing political demands you have that really prove you were able to push the province in the right direction thanks to your co-operation... you need to make it cheaper to own a car?

If the ONDP hits a ceiling I think it'lll be because they're not doing enough to engage people's core progressive values. Progressives are just going to stay home from the polls if nobody looks appealing. Or vote for a smaller party.

If the ONDP hits a ceiling I think it'lll be because they're not doing enough to engage people's core progressive values. Progressives are just going to stay home from the polls if nobody looks appealing. Or vote for a smaller party.

I think what she's doing is great. In the same way that Layton called for regulation of the fees that banks and credit card companies charge people, I think it's great that Horwath is standing up to insurance companies. Like Layton, she's a hero for the regular Joes and Janes of the province.

If the ONDP hits a ceiling I think it'll be because they're not doing enough to engage people's core progressive values. Progressives are just going to stay home from the polls if nobody looks appealing. Or vote for a smaller party.

I think what she's doing is great. In the same way that Layton called for regulation of the fees that banks and credit card companies charge people, I think it's great that Horwath is standing up to insurance companies. Like Layton, she's a hero for the regular Joes and Janes of the province.

I don't know, somehow bank and credit card fees come off more as a clear cut case of powerful corporation versus everyday customer. Which fits well into the narrative of the party base. But when it's auto insurance, it comes off more like petro-populism.

Nonetheless, Horwath is not proposing public auto insurance. I would actually support that, although it probably wouldn't fly in the present political climate. IIRC Rae promised a public insurer and then broke it.

If you were ONDP leader today, what would be your most important demand to a leader who asks for your support?

If the ONDP hits a ceiling I think it'll be because they're not doing enough to engage people's core progressive values. Progressives are just going to stay home from the polls if nobody looks appealing. Or vote for a smaller party.

I think what she's doing is great. In the same way that Layton called for regulation of the fees that banks and credit card companies charge people, I think it's great that Horwath is standing up to insurance companies. Like Layton, she's a hero for the regular Joes and Janes of the province.

I don't know, somehow bank and credit card fees come off more as a clear cut case of powerful corporation versus everyday customer. Which fits well into the narrative of the party base. But when it's auto insurance, it comes off more like petro-populism.

Ralph Nader would disagree with you as this summary of this summary of "Winning the Insurance Game" by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith: "Since Americans spend $407 billion a year on insurance (three times the national budget deficit and 12 percent of total U.S. disposable income), the authors think there is room for considerable fat-trimming. They strongly recommend comparison shopping. With regard to automobile insurance, they show that the difference in price on identical coverage on the same car can be as great as $819 a year. In characteristic Nader fashion, the book discusses what consumers can do at the community and national levels to fight the insurance companies. More government regulation of the industry is recommended." (http://www.enotes.com/winning-insurance-game-salem/winning-insurance-game)

I remember a Nader TV interview that he did in Canada in which he said government-run auto insurance could save Canadians a large amount of money.

Horvath's proposal to slash auto insurance rates by 15% is a form of regulation of business. However, what Ontarians most want in view of the terrible provincial economy is a jobs plan that they can believe will help turn around the economy and generate employment.

I think the auto insurance plan is bad news for Northern Ontarians, who seem to be the biggest supporters of the NDP. It would probably raise their rates, as they have some of the lowest rates because of better driving records / less people on the roads so less you are less likely to get into an accident I guess.

Raise corporate tax revenue and help young people get jobs, Ontario NDP demands (it's a headline from the G & M but I couldn't get the link to work on babble)

Ontario New Democratic leader Andrea Horwath laid out the first of her budget demands from incoming Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne, asking the minority government to raise corporate tax revenue by closing loopholes and create a job-placement program for young people.

Ms. Horwath’s plan would eliminate a tax exemption on employer health tax for companies with more than 100 workers, crack down on corporations that shift profits around the country to dodge taxes and permanently restricting tax credits for HST paid on things like meals and entertainment.

Simultaneously, she called for the province to create a system to connect people aged 16 to 26 with jobs, and subsidize up to $7,800 of their wages for six months.

Raise corporate tax revenue and help young people get jobs, Ontario NDP demands (it's a headline from the G & M but I couldn't get the link to work on babble)

Ontario New Democratic leader Andrea Horwath laid out the first of her budget demands from incoming Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne, asking the minority government to raise corporate tax revenue by closing loopholes and create a job-placement program for young people.

Ms. Horwath’s plan would eliminate a tax exemption on employer health tax for companies with more than 100 workers, crack down on corporations that shift profits around the country to dodge taxes and permanently restricting tax credits for HST paid on things like meals and entertainment.

Simultaneously, she called for the province to create a system to connect people aged 16 to 26 with jobs, and subsidize up to $7,800 of their wages for six months.

Would this apply with teachers too? Would be a big incentive for school boards to hire the younger teachers if the government will pay $7800 of their salary (on top of the regular allowances the boards get for teachers), rather than the retirees who come back.

The Star is going out of their way to attack the NDP again. This time, the criticism is on the NDP's view of how to deal with traffic gridlock and how to better fund transit.

Martin Regg Cohn wrote:

She wants business to bankroll the $50 billion investment required to build transit and highways over the next few years, by eliminating the gravy train of corporate tax breaks. Oh, and she wants to extract more money from Ottawa, counting on the federal transit fairy to pay our way.

Apparently this makes her the same as Rob Ford. A bizarre parallel that only the Star could make.

I think Cohn went too far, but it is reasonable to point out that Horwath is on the same page as Ford when it comes to the specific question of whether to make driving more expensive. Her auto insurance rate cut crusade fits into this too.

A lot of environmentalists believe that making driving more expensive is good public policy. Case in point, someone tweeted a photo with Jagmeet Singh "@jagmeetNDP is definitely ready to tackle unfair auto insurance rates. Make sure 2 sign the petition 2 lower rates!" and a good friend of mine responded, "& make driving cheaper? Fuck no".

I realize this is a site of conflict among self-identified progressives - fairness and progressivity of taxation versus an environmental angle to use tax and pricing as a means of behaviour change. Myself I fall on the side of being uninterested in making driving cheaper.

I'm a cyclist myself, so it's not a big concern of mine either. But, I know a lot of people with children who need an automobile, and insurance is a killer. Certainly in the past higher levels of government provided more funding to public transit, so I think rather than various user fees and consumption taxes, that getting back to proper government funding of public services like transit through more progressive taxes is the way to go. Improve the transit and car use will decline.

I think Cohn went too far, but it is reasonable to point out that Horwath is on the same page as Ford when it comes to the specific question of whether to make driving more expensive. Her auto insurance rate cut crusade fits into this too.

A lot of environmentalists believe that making driving more expensive is good public policy. Case in point, someone tweeted a photo with Jagmeet Singh "@jagmeetNDP is definitely ready to tackle unfair auto insurance rates. Make sure 2 sign the petition 2 lower rates!" and a good friend of mine responded, "& make driving cheaper? Fuck no".

I realize this is a site of conflict among self-identified progressives - fairness and progressivity of taxation versus an environmental angle to use tax and pricing as a means of behaviour change. Myself I fall on the side of being uninterested in making driving cheaper.

That articial was the biggest farse I've ever read and it just reminds me why the star is as big a Joke as the Globe.

Andrea is nothing like Ford, she wants to increase taxes on the well off like Corporations. Regg and the Liberals instead want to increase taxes on poor and middle class just like Ford perferes.

Really this column should be in the funny pages.

I'd also like to point out that Andrea doesn't get hammer at charities, does verbally abuse people, she does support the Gay community, and she has never sexually harrassed an opponent. Never almost gotten thrown out of office for breaking the law either.

Though I can see a potential (Toronto especially) problem w/Andrea vs Wynne: that she'd be framed as insufficiently "cosmopolitan"--almost the inverse of the 70s when the Ontario Liberals vs Davis/Lewis was cornered into being more of a SW Ontario Heartland party...

Though I can see a potential (Toronto especially) problem w/Andrea vs Wynne: that she'd be framed as insufficiently "cosmopolitan"--almost the inverse of the 70s when the Ontario Liberals vs Davis/Lewis was cornered into being more of a SW Ontario Heartland party...

A bit before my time, but interesting to hear how it was then. It's a shame Lewis never won.